QUETTA, Nov 28: The Balochistan National Party (Mengal) and the Baloch Students Organisation have vowed to go ahead with the “Lashkar-i-Balochistan long march” plan, scheduled to start on Nov 30, despite the house arrest of party president Sardar Akhtar Mengal and detention of BSO chairman Mohiuddin Baloch.

Speaking at separate press conferences at the press club here on Tuesday, BNP-M vice-president Sajid Tareen and BSO secretary-general Gulzar Baloch said they would resist any attempt to stop the long march, and the government would be responsible for the consequences. The march would not be abandoned under any circumstances.

They condemned the house arrest of Sardar Mengal and the detention of Mohiuddin Baloch and said the struggle against excesses of the government would continue.

Mr Tareen said the huge Monday rally, led by Sardar Mengal, had frightened the government and that was why it had put Sardar Mengal under house arrest. However, he said, the government could not stop the BNP from holding the long march because other leaders would now lead the march. He said party members, followers and sympathisers had been asked to reach Gwadar to participate in the long march on Nov 30 to protest against the military operation, killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, arrests of political workers of nationalist groups and usurpation of resources of the province.

The BNP leader alleged that the government was intentionally forcing the party to go for violence. He said that in a democratic society it was the constitutional right of a political party to hold peaceful rallies and demonstrations to express resentment against ‘anti-people’ policies of the government.

Gulzar Baloch claimed that 450 members of the organisation had been arrested during the last few days in Hub, Khuzdar, Kalat, Gwadar, Turbat and Panjgur.

He said the Baloch were now not afraid of the government excesses because the rulers since 50s had been punishing them for raising voice against the oppression and looting of resources of Balochistan.

He said the BSO supported the BNP struggle for rights for the Baloch and the youth were prepared to sacrifice their lives to defeat the oppressors.

ECL: A division bench of the Balochistan High Court has declared as ‘unlawful’ the placement of the name of National Party (NP) leader Mir Khalid Lango on exit control list (ECL).

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and Justice Akhtar Zaman Malghani, rejected the plea that the federal government could place the name of a citizen on the ECL without specifying any reasons.

The interior ministry had issued a notification on June 8, imposing a ban on Mr Lango’s trips abroad.

Challenging the notification, Mr Lango had filed a petition on July 5.

The petitioner stated that he was a businessman who had to go abroad frequently for business purposes and meeting friends and relatives. He said since he was a law-abiding citizen, his name should be cleared from the ECL.

MISSING MAN: Family members of Abdul Ghaffar Lango, who went missing from Mastung on June 26, protested here on Tuesday against what they called the illegal detention of Mr Lango by intelligence agencies.

The protesters, including women and children, blocked the main roundabout near Balochistan High Court and Assembly Secretariat.

They wanted to enter the high court premises to present a memorandum to the chief justice. When the police refused to allow them entry, they blocked the roundabout, causing traffic disruption on Zarghoon road.